Electrochemical Decomposition of Nitrosamines Formed in CO2 Capture Systems

Abstract

Nitrosamines can form from the reaction of NOx with secondary amines and accumulate in the amine solvent loop and waterwash sections of amine CO2 capture systems. Nitrosamines, as a class of compounds, have been reported to be mutagenic, cytotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic. Nitrosamines are an emerging environmental concern if their formation and emission from operating CO2 capture systems cannot be better understood and controlled. In this study, a stationary carbon electrode material inside an electrochemical cell will be used to target and adsorb the nitrosamines from a washing water solution and decompose them into less harmful compounds. This preliminary study shows that the UKy-CAER developed carbon xerogel (CX) electrode material has a high adsorption capacity and can decompose a high percentage of nitrosamines with a minimal amount of charge passed. This electrochemical strategy can be effective for the removal of nitrosamines from wastewater and amine-CO2 capture waterwash streams.